Early deficit spells doom for Lady Spartans

The hole they dug was too deep. The Bishop Stang Spartans shot 3-for-28 from the floor in the first half, scored two second-quarter points, but turned up the defensive pressure in the second half only to fall 42-38 to visiting Martha's Vineyard in Eastern Athletic Conference girls' basketball action Thursday night.

The Bishop Stang Spartans shot 3-for-28 from the floor in the first half, scored two second-quarter points, but turned up the defensive pressure in the second half only to fall 42-38 to visiting Martha's Vineyard in Eastern Athletic Conference girls' basketball action Thursday night.

The Spartans (2-5), who trailed 23-8 at halftime and fell behind by as many as 19 points early in the third quarter, forced 11 third-quarter turnovers and used an 11-0 run to climb back in it and cut the deficit to 32-24 heading into the fourth quarter.

"We weren't working hard enough to get good shots in the first half," said Bishop Stang coach Eric LeVie. "I challenged them at the half and they responded. I'm proud of how we fought to get back in it, but we need that defensive intensity to be consistent in both halves."

The Spartan shooting was woeful in the first 16 minutes, especially the second quarter when Abby Means knocked down the lone Bishop Stang basket with 3:42 to go which cut the Vineyard lead to 17-8.

The Vineyard closed the half on a 6-0 run and then opened the third quarter with the first two baskets to take their biggest lead of the game at 27-8.

Bishop Stang point guard Allie Lake ignited the Spartan 11-0 run by converting a three-point play before the Stang defense made it difficult for the visitors to cross midcourt.

Martha's Vineyard went 4:49 without scoring and Lake added five points during the spurt to make it 27-19 with 3:58 left in the quarter.

Erin Hill (15 points) stopped the bleeding for the Vineyard with a free throw with 1:47 to go in the quarter.

Trailing 38-31 after an MV basket by Samantha Hargy with 3:16 to go, the Spartans scored the next five points, four by Means, and trailed 38-36 with 1:24 to go.

After Hill made one of two free throws, Erin Lester put back an offensive rebound with 48 seconds remaining to get the Spartans within a point at 39-38.

The Vineyarders kept the Spartans alive by going 2-for-7 from the free throw line in the first 7:55 of the final quarter, but Bishop Stang turned the ball over on its final two possessions.

Hill made it a two-possession game by hitting consecutive free throws with five seconds left.

Means led the Spartans with 12 points, 10 in the second half. Lake added 10.

Hargy, the lone Vineyarder with a field goal in the fourth quarter, led all scorers with 16 points, while Hill followed with 15.